Subsects

Subsects are smaller groups within a larger sect that have diverged from the parent body, typically while maintaining core beliefs. The term is used across religious, ideological, and social contexts, and it denotes a group whose boundaries are defined by shared doctrinal or organizational differences rather than a completely separate tradition.

Subsects form when disagreements over doctrine, ritual practice, leadership, or geographic dispersion lead to a split. They may retain many of the parent's beliefs and institutions but adopt distinctive practices, governance, or emphasis. The separation can be peaceful and formal, or the result of conflict and contentious succession disputes.

Relations with the parent sect vary. Some subsects remain within the same broader organization and recognize the parent as a sister group; others operate independently and may compete for adherents or legitimacy. Over time, subsects may become denominations or disappear.

Subsects are a focus of study in the sociology of religion and political science as they illuminate how authority, identity, and tradition are negotiated within a shared worldview. Notable topics include the causes of splits, the patterns of assimilation or isolation of subgroups, and the legal or cultural constraints affecting recognition.